Napoleon Solo (horse)
American racehorse, winner of the 2026 Preakness Stakes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Napoleon Solo (foaled February 17, 2023) is a multiple American Grade 1-winning Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2025 Champagne Stakes and the 2026 Preakness Stakes.
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| Napoleon Solo | |
|---|---|
Napoleon Solo after winning the 2026 Preakness Stakes | |
| Sire | Liam's Map |
| Grandsire | Unbridled's Song |
| Dam | Atomic Blonde |
| Damsire | Scat Daddy |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | February 17, 2023[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Gray |
| Breeder | John D. Gunter and Eurowest Bloodstock |
| Owner | Gold Square (until May 2026) ESPOIR USA, Inc. (May 2026–present) |
| Trainer | Chad Summers |
| Record | 5: 3-0-0 |
| Earnings | $1,602,040 |
| Major wins | |
| Champagne Stakes (2025) Triple Crown Race wins: Preakness Stakes (2026) | |
| Last updated on May 16, 2026 | |
Background
Napoleon Solo is a gray horse, bred in Kentucky by John D. Gunter and Eurowest Bloodstock. He was foaled February 17, 2023, and is out of the Scat Daddy mare, Atomic Blonde, a winner herself.[2] His sire, Liam's Map, was the winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He was sold for $40,000 as a yearling to his eventual trainer, Chad Summers.[3]
Racing career
2025: Two-year-old season
Napoleon Solo's racing career began as a two-year-old horse in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga. Starting strongly, Napoleon Solo drew off to win by 51⁄4 lengths on the wire.[4] His connections then pointed him to the Champagne Stakes, a prestigious race for American 2 year old thoroughbreds run in early October, traditionally run at Belmont Park but this year run at Aqueduct Racecourse. Seizing the early lead, Napoleon Solo would never be challenged en route to a 61⁄2 length victory over Talkin, who Napoleon Solo would later defeat in the 2026 Preakness Stakes.[5]
2026: Three-year-old season
Napoleon Solo began his three-year-old campaign by starting in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park after a four-month layoff. While in contention early, Napoleon Solo faded down the stretch, finishing fifth and beaten more than 111⁄4 lengths by the eventual winner, Commandment.[6] His connections chose to keep Napoleon Solo on the Road to the Kentucky Derby after the race, opting to run him next in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racecourse. However, Napoleon Solo would be beaten again there in similar fashion, getting off to a strong start before fading in the stretch and finishing fifth, this time being beaten by the winner, Albus, by only 23⁄4 lengths.[7]
After Napoleon Solo did not make the field for the 2026 Kentucky Derby, his connections pointed him to the 2026 Preakness Stakes. During that race, he started well, challenging for the early lead with post-time favorite Taj Mahal before pulling away to win by 1+1⁄4 lengths, repelling the charge of Iron Honor.[8]
Two weeks after Napoleon Solo won the Preakness, owner Al Gold announced that the horse had been sold in a private transaction to ESPOIR USA, Inc. The sale price was not disclosed, and the identity of the person behind the new ownership was not immediately known. Bloodstock agent David Ingordo said that Napoleon Solo would remain training with Chad Summers, with plans to race through at least 2027 before standing stud at Lane's End Farm.[9]
Statistics
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Time | Margin | Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 – Two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Aug 8, 2025 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Saratoga | 3.50 | 7 | 1 | 1:11.14 | 5+1⁄4 lengths | Kendrick Carmouche | [4] | |
| Oct 4, 2025 | 1 mile | Champagne Stakes | I | Aqueduct | 6.97 | 9 | 1 | 1:34.57 | 6+1⁄2 lengths | Joel Rosario | [5] |
| 2026 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Feb 28, 2026 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Fountain of Youth Stakes | II | Gulfstream Park | 3.40 | 9 | 5 | 1:45.31[10] | (11+3⁄4 lengths) | Kendrick Carmouche | [6][10] |
| Apr 4, 2026 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Wood Memorial | II | Aqueduct | 3.57 | 12 | 5 | 1:52.25[11] | (2+3⁄4 lengths) | Paco Lopez | [7][11] |
| May 16, 2026 | 1+3⁄16 miles | Preakness Stakes | I | Laurel Park | 7.90 | 14 | 1 | 1:58.69 | 1+1⁄4 lengths | Paco Lopez | [8] |
Pedigree
| Sire Liam's Map (USA) (2011) |
Unbridled's Song (USA) (1993) |
Unbridled (1987) | Fappiano* (1977) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gana Facil (1981) | |||
| Trolley Song (1983) | Caro (IRE) (1967) | ||
| Lucky Spell (1971) | |||
| Miss Macy Sue (USA) (2003) |
Trippi (1987) | End Sweep (1991) | |
| Jealous Appeal (1983) | |||
| Yada Yada (1986) | Great Above (1972) | ||
| Stem (1982) | |||
| Dam Atomic Blonde (USA) (2016) |
Scat Daddy (USA) (2004) |
Johannesburg (1999) | Hennessy (1993) |
| Myth (1993) | |||
| Love Style (1999) | Mr. Prospector* (1970) | ||
| Likable Style (1990) | |||
| Volver (IRE) (2006) |
Danehill Dancer (IRE) (1993) | Danehill (1986) | |
| Mira Adonde (1986) | |||
| Chanteleau (1998) | A.P. Indy (1989) | ||
| Navratilovna (1986)(Family: 2-s)[13] |
- Napoleon Solo is inbred 5S x 4D to the stallion Mr. Prospector, meaning that he appears once in the fifth generation on the sire side (via Fappiano) and once in the fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.